Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Applying for primary school - Scotland - Help!

88 replies

Hereforit2022 · 18/10/2022 19:55

Wondering if anyone can advise?

I have a LB who was born middle of march. He misses out on starting primary school August 2023 by 12 days (he was actually due on 28th February, was overdue). Do you know if I can apply to get him into school for August 2023? And if so how I do it?

He is very much ready for school in my opinion and has cousins/friends due to start next year so would love him to join them

OP posts:
R0BYN · 19/10/2022 07:53

@Hereforit2022 you have asked for advice which people have kindly given you.

Calling other posters liars ( Is that accurate ? ) or questioning their tone ( when they say something you disagree with ) is extremely rude and completely unnecessary.

FWIW, every single teacher I know who has a child with a January / February birthday has chosen to defer their child’s entry to P1. They can’t all be wrong.

Nor can they all have kids who are thick as mince and don’t need to be challenged. Or who are not teaching the older children in nursery.

I only know one person who chose to send their child early.

She is not a teacher but is very much a social climber . She wanted to send her late March born child at 4 because she thought he was brilliant and was not being stretched ( it was a private school ). The school asked her to remove the child at the end of the first term because he was not coping.

Surprisingly enough, his genius was not evident during the rest of his education. He got a few mediocre Highers, didn’t go on to further / higher education and now works as a sales rep.

Original poster
Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 08:01

R0BYN · 19/10/2022 07:53

@Hereforit2022 you have asked for advice which people have kindly given you.

Calling other posters liars ( Is that accurate ? ) or questioning their tone ( when they say something you disagree with ) is extremely rude and completely unnecessary.

FWIW, every single teacher I know who has a child with a January / February birthday has chosen to defer their child’s entry to P1. They can’t all be wrong.

Nor can they all have kids who are thick as mince and don’t need to be challenged. Or who are not teaching the older children in nursery.

I only know one person who chose to send their child early.

She is not a teacher but is very much a social climber . She wanted to send her late March born child at 4 because she thought he was brilliant and was not being stretched ( it was a private school ). The school asked her to remove the child at the end of the first term because he was not coping.

Surprisingly enough, his genius was not evident during the rest of his education. He got a few mediocre Highers, didn’t go on to further / higher education and now works as a sales rep.

I have absolutely not called anyone a liar. Have you read this thread?
I have also said that I have taken onboard everyone's advice and it isn't me keeping up with the Joneses or trying to be a social climber. I am trying to do what is right for my son. Again, haven't said he was a genius either I just want a setting that will challenge him more as I can only imagine the nursery he is currently in will not keep him engaged for another 2 years.
I appreciate everyone's advice and especially those who have experience in it. What is not appreciated is the judgemental and quite frankly abrupt comments from folk. It literally helps no one.

OP posts:
Laurdo · 19/10/2022 08:25

In Scotland kids over 3 are entitled to a council nursery placement. My SD is 4 and is in her 2nd year of nursery and goes Mon-Fri 8.45 - 2.45 so pretty much normal primary school hours. Her nursery is attached to a school and her days there are quite structured.

Her birthday is in March so she just missed the cut off for starting this August but she absolutely wasn't ready to start school this year anyway. She's come on leaps and bounds since starting back nursery in August and will definitely be more ready come next August.

Maybe apply for a council nursery placement if your DS is bored at his private nursery. A lot of the kids will all go to the same school so it'll be good for him to make some friends who will go on to primary with him.

Caterina99 · 19/10/2022 08:42

We moved to Scotland from a system with a sep 1 cut off.

my DS is a June birthday (he’s p3 now) and I think it’s a benefit to him to move to being one of the older kids. Academically he was fine, but socially he was definitely less mature than the majority of kids in his last school. Plus they allowed deferrals for July and august birthdays there, so some of the kids were over a year older than him. All my teacher friends deferred their late summer boys without fail which I think says something!

My personal experience in Scotland is also that the majority of jan and Feb birthdays, especially boys, are deferred. So your DS could be up to 14/15m younger than a lot of his friends.

BalmyBalmes · 19/10/2022 09:00

I moved both of mine from private nursery to nursery attached to the school for 1 year before school.
It was much more structured and mirrored school routines in some ways eg bell at snack time. They could go 9-3 plus wraparound care if needed.

Lots of input from the school and they went over to school to join in various events.
Also made lots of friends they would go to school with. Definitely worth thinking about moving your child OP

WeegieGranny · 19/10/2022 09:18

Remember that he will also be disadvantaged by being the youngest at extra-curricular activities and after-school sports. If they take children according to age, he won't be able to join his friends until after his birthday.

Work backwards from school. Make sure he gets his pre-school year in a school-based nursery. Then back to pre-pre-school year, which is best spent in the same school-based nursery where he gets to know staff and children and routine.

Would you consider Gaelic nursery?

Original poster
Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 10:08

Laurdo · 19/10/2022 08:25

In Scotland kids over 3 are entitled to a council nursery placement. My SD is 4 and is in her 2nd year of nursery and goes Mon-Fri 8.45 - 2.45 so pretty much normal primary school hours. Her nursery is attached to a school and her days there are quite structured.

Her birthday is in March so she just missed the cut off for starting this August but she absolutely wasn't ready to start school this year anyway. She's come on leaps and bounds since starting back nursery in August and will definitely be more ready come next August.

Maybe apply for a council nursery placement if your DS is bored at his private nursery. A lot of the kids will all go to the same school so it'll be good for him to make some friends who will go on to primary with him.

Thank you for this. I agree I think looking at the comments I may need to look at a council nursery. It's just with my working hours the private nursery could offer better hours but I think it would benefit him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 10:09

BalmyBalmes · 19/10/2022 09:00

I moved both of mine from private nursery to nursery attached to the school for 1 year before school.
It was much more structured and mirrored school routines in some ways eg bell at snack time. They could go 9-3 plus wraparound care if needed.

Lots of input from the school and they went over to school to join in various events.
Also made lots of friends they would go to school with. Definitely worth thinking about moving your child OP

Thank u all taken onboard

OP posts:
Original poster
Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 10:10

WeegieGranny · 19/10/2022 09:18

Remember that he will also be disadvantaged by being the youngest at extra-curricular activities and after-school sports. If they take children according to age, he won't be able to join his friends until after his birthday.

Work backwards from school. Make sure he gets his pre-school year in a school-based nursery. Then back to pre-pre-school year, which is best spent in the same school-based nursery where he gets to know staff and children and routine.

Would you consider Gaelic nursery?

Yes absolutely would consider a Gaelic nursery. I believe there may only be one I am aware off which is in the other side of the city. Do you any ones in the Glasgow area?

OP posts:
Laurdo · 19/10/2022 10:11

Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 10:08

Thank you for this. I agree I think looking at the comments I may need to look at a council nursery. It's just with my working hours the private nursery could offer better hours but I think it would benefit him.

Show quote history

They have different options. I know some kids are in maybe 3 or 4 days but longer hours. That might suit you better.

TheTeddyBears · 19/10/2022 10:15

If he goes to nursery they can support your application for this in saying he is ready etc. I've heard if your child is a March birthday you can apply to get them in a year early.

When I was at school I had a boy who's birthday was in the April and he got in a year early, must have had a very persistent parent to get that to happen!

FamilyTreeBuilder · 19/10/2022 10:16

stargirl1701 · 18/10/2022 19:59

No, you can't start early.

Is he in a school nursery or a private setting?

That's not really true, most councils will allow an early entry application.

However in my experience with three kids going through education in an area (in)famous for its pushy parents, it NEVER happens. My eldest was born first week in March, had he been born 10 days earlier he could have started school when he was 4.5.

What you have to remember OP is that with deferral, there are almost certainly going to be children older than your child in a P1 class who were born in January or February before your child, potentially even Nov/Dec too.

There are no advantages to being the youngest, he'd be sitting his Nat 5s at a few weeks past his 15th birthday, Highers at 16, leaving school at 17 and a bit. If your child's pre-school is not planning activities to meet his needs effectively then that is a pre-school issue which is not solved by shoving him into P1 early.

BalmyBalmes · 19/10/2022 10:19

I work 3 days a week and was able to use all my 5 funded sessions at the school nursery on these days (plus paid for 1 extra).
Also paid for lunch time and after nursery wraparound care.
There are also childminders that do nursery wraparound care.

sevenbyseven · 19/10/2022 10:35

My daughter missed out by a few days too, and also seemed ready - she's very academically able and also mature socially. However she started a year later (in her correct intake) and I can honestly say it's been a huge benefit being old for her year and she has really thrived.

Unlike your son though, she wasn't bored at nursery. She loved physical, active play, which they did a lot of, had lots of friends, and they also had a qualified teacher several mornings a week, so she found it all fun and stimulating. Perhaps it's worth looking around for a different nursery for his preschool year?

Awrite · 19/10/2022 10:46

I am in my forties so this was a long time ago but we had a girl in our class whose Mum had fought for an early entry to school. She had a March birthday.

By P7, she was the most anxious person I have ever met. Couldn't be away from her Mum so missed out on so much. Was apparently very brainy but it all evened out by secondary.

I am pretty sure her Mum regretted her decision, which it such a shame as it was done with the best of intentions.

stargirl1701 · 19/10/2022 12:10

@FamilyTreeBuilder

Which councils?

I've been a primary teacher for 25 years and never heard of it. Not in my own experience or that of colleagues across Scotland.

WeegieGranny · 19/10/2022 12:12

HTH. Don't know how to link. This website should be easy to find.

Applying for primary school - Scotland - Help!
FamilyTreeBuilder · 19/10/2022 12:19

stargirl1701 · 19/10/2022 12:10

@FamilyTreeBuilder

Which councils?

I've been a primary teacher for 25 years and never heard of it. Not in my own experience or that of colleagues across Scotland.

East Dunbartonshire - it was discussed briefly as my son is a first 5 days in March birthday and swiftly discounted. Never known anyone take them up on it though.

www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-learning/school-catchments/early-entry-primary-school

Kaffiene · 19/10/2022 12:26

My child is 20/02/2018 and will be starting school in Aug 2023 as will all of his Jan & Feb 2018 pals. There is massive different between 5.5 year olds and a child who is less than 4.5

in our groups they are all very different in abilities. Some know their letters and numbers, some can ride a 2 wheeled bike, some can swim and some can do none of those things!
But they are very different kids from who they were a year ago in terms in confidence and independence.

stargirl1701 · 19/10/2022 12:33

Wow! Are East Dumbarton an outlier? Any others?

smileandsing · 19/10/2022 13:25

DS is a Scottish March born child. He too was more than ready for school long before he went. But I'm glad he was 5.5 when he started. Many of the younger ones really struggled, there were tears at the school gate regularly. He hit the ground running. Far better to have a 'head start' by being one of the oldest than perhaps struggling to keep up with their peers (in many ways, not just academically) as the very youngest. Many people defer their Jan and Feb born children because of this.
Remember it's not just about how ready they are now, it's about how ready for high school, and then the World they will be when they're older.

Besides, you don't really have a choice, unless you move to England

stargirl1701 · 19/10/2022 17:32

It would appear most councils reject early entry.

North Lan
South Lan
Moray
Midlothian

are on record as having children admitted early.

Data from FOI by Upstart.

SausageMonkey2 · 19/10/2022 18:53

We are in Edinburgh (North / Leith). Message me if you want more details. It’s been a great solution for us.

SausageMonkey2 · 19/10/2022 19:08

www.willowden.scot/our-nurseries/ Cannot recommend highly enough if you are close to any of them. My kid can write her name, count, do basic addition and subtraction (thanks numberblocks), ride a two wheeled bike etc and never tires of this place. They stretch her amazingly AND she comes home
shattered and ready for bed ;)

Original poster
Hereforit2022 · 19/10/2022 20:25

SausageMonkey2 · 19/10/2022 19:08

www.willowden.scot/our-nurseries/ Cannot recommend highly enough if you are close to any of them. My kid can write her name, count, do basic addition and subtraction (thanks numberblocks), ride a two wheeled bike etc and never tires of this place. They stretch her amazingly AND she comes home
shattered and ready for bed ;)

That place looks amazing. Definitely too far afield for me though but I will look to see if there are similar options nearer. I am wondering if a lot of this is to do with the nursery he is in and me (stupidly) thinking sending him to school earlier would help. Will absolutely look at other nursery options

OP posts: